How to be a (more) sustainable traveller

I may be speaking from personal experience here, but I think I can safely say that travelling is great. Exploring new sights, sounds, smells, cultures… it’s all great. What’s not so great is the impact it can have on the planet. Emissions from flights… over tourism in popular areas… pollution from cruise ships… to name a few.

Cruise Ship

There are ways to limit your impact. However, it’s important to acknowledge that unless you’re travelling completely through active travel (e.g. walking or cycling), your trip will have a decent amount of carbon emissions.

Let’s start with the ever popular short, weekend long city breaks…

Lisbon Tram

Yes, they can be great fun, but getting on a flight

just to spend two days in a destination may not be the most sustainable option for the planet.

Stay Longer

If you are travelling somewhere abroad, consider taking a longer annual or bi-annual trip. Whilst you’re there visit a couple of nearby cities/destinations and try to travel via lower carbon options such as the train.

To make this longer trip more sustainable, could you travel to the destination by train or ferry?

This will inevitably make the journey longer, but making the journey part of the trip can open you up to seeing even more off the beaten track sights.  Plus, if you travel to some lesser-known destinations along the way you’re more likely to get an authentic experience without as many crowds.

'Go' Local

Alternatively, if you’re one for multiple trips per year, could you take a more local weekend trip? There are lots of great destinations on our doorsteps, that in recent years have been overlooked by cheap sunny holidays. During the COVID pandemic, people started to re-look at ‘staycations’ – and realised how amazing a local trip can be!

Reusable Water Bottles

Make Sustainable Choices

Consider your plastic consumption whilst travelling. Although it can add to your luggage weight, consider bringing a re-useable water bottle, coffee mug and your own toiletries. I know we all love the mini hotel bottles but think of the planet and leave them be! Some hotels have even opted for re-fillable shower products and other more sustainable cleaning products.

If you are keen to stay in sustainable accommodation, make sure to do your research to ensure the hotel/apartment is truly sustainable. For example, look for their measures to reduce waste, increase energy efficiency, and conserve water. This would usually be included in an environmental or sustainability report.

Hotel Room

Also, if a hotel claims to have won a ‘Green’ award, make sure to check the legitimacy of the award to ensure that it’s not just clever marketing and a possibly a classic case of Greenwashing.

So there you go, that's our personal recommendations of ways to reduce your travel impact.

Hopefully you find it useful and happy travelling!

Check Out Our Courses